The climate wars in Australia have scaled up dramatically. On one side of politics there is not even the slightest pretence that they believe or will ever act on the science, or even sound engineering and economics. The shadow boxing is done with. Now it’s a pitched battle.
Australia on Wednesday voted in favour of a landmark United Nations resolution – spearheaded by its Pacific island neighbours – that strengthens state responsibility to act on climate change.
Most notably, the 193-member global body endorsed an opinion provided by the world’s top court that warns a failure to curb fossil fuel production might constitute an “internationally wrongful act”.
It’s a remarkable development that is worthy of further explanation, but it’s also worth noting what was being urged by the new Coalition leader and former energy minister Angus Taylor at the Australian Energy Producers Conference in Adelaide, a gathering of mostly coal, gas and oil producers.
Taylor, who has promised to scrap Australia’s commitment to reaching net zero by 2050, and tear up key policies and agencies that support the rollout of wind and solar, urged the fossil fuel industry to “fight like hell”, which is exactly where Australia is heading if climate change continues unabated.
